2 Chronicles 11:1-12 - Rehoboam's Kingdom

¹ Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin. There were one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam. ² God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said: ³ Speak to Judah's King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. ⁴ Jehovah says: Do not wage war against your relatives. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing. So they obeyed the word of Jehovah. They turned back from their attack on Jeroboam.

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem. He built fortified cities in Judah. ⁶ He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷ Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, ⁸ Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹ Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰ Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. ¹¹ He strengthened the cities and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them. ¹² He stored shields and spears in each city. He made the cities very secure. Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.